GROUP:
In utero/newborn
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Brain and nervous system | 127 | 79-160 | 196 |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | 115 | 72-142 | 185 |
| Reproduction and fertility | 31 | 13-49 | 66 |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | 20 | 3-40 | 54 |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | 8 | 4-18 | 18 |
| Cancer | 2 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Endocrine system | 2 | 1-3 | 3 |
| Hematologic (blood) system | 1 | 1-2 | 2 |
Group members:
(20 People)
Baby #1
Baby #2
Baby #3
Baby #4
Baby #5
Baby #6
Baby #7
Baby #8
Baby #9
Baby #10
Cord Blood Sample 11
Cord Blood Sample 12
Cord Blood Sample 13
Cord Blood Sample 14
Cord Blood Sample 15
Cord Blood Sample 16
Cord Blood Sample 17
Cord Blood Sample 18
Cord Blood Sample 19
Cord Blood Sample 20
Locations:
Group: In utero/newborn
Found 242-319 of 430 tested chemicals (20 participants)
The cord blood of the "In utero/newborn" group contained 242-319 of 430 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, immune system toxicity, and reproductive toxicity and fertility problems.
Summary of chemicals found in In utero/newborn
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Bisphenol A | 60% high 30% moderate | Polycarbonate plastics, food can linings, dental sealants | |
| Brominated dioxins & furans | 55% moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Brominated Fire Retardant | 30% high | ||
| Chlorinated dioxins & furans | 5% high 95% moderate | Immune system (including sensitization and allergies), Birth defects and developmental delays | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Lead | 100% low | Lead-based paint in older homes, household dust, vinyl products, tap water | |
| Mercury | 30% high 50% moderate 20% low | Brain and nervous system | Seafood, flu shots/vaccines, dental fillings |
| Methylmercury | 25% high 55% moderate 20% low | Dietary sources, particularly seafood | |
| Nitro- and polycylic- musks | 30% high 40% moderate | Endocrine system | Cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning agents, detergents, soaps |
| Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs) | 100% low | Reproduction and fertility | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Perchlorate | 30% high 50% moderate 10% low | Hematologic (blood) system, Birth defects and developmental delays | Contaminated food and drinking water |
| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) | 20% high 55% moderate 25% low | Cancer, Birth defects and developmental delays, Endocrine system | Stain- and grease-proof coatings on food packaging, couches, carpets, pans |
| Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | 40% high 60% moderate | Reproduction and fertility | Air polluted by vehicles or factories, burned and fatty food |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 100% low | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | 100% moderate | Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
| Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) | 20% high 55% moderate 25% low | Gastrointestinal (including liver) | Dietary sources, fatty meat, dairy and fish |
Test results by chemical family (see each chemical)
bisphenol a & badge
1 of 1 found
Detected in polycarbonate plastic, dental sealants, and resins that line metal cans. Linked to hormone disruption, birth defects, cancer with effects at very low doses.
- geometric mean: 2.18 ng/mL in blood serum (vs. 0.456 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 9 of 10 people in the group (vs. 16 of 51 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 19
| 0.445 | ng/mL in blood serum | 8.61 |
 | ||
brominated dioxins & furans
8-9 of 12 found — see each chemical
Contaminants in flame retardants, pollutants from plastics. May harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 11.4 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14.8 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 11 of 20 people in the group (vs. 2,163 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #7, Baby #6, Baby #3, Baby #4, Cord Blood Sample 15, Baby #2, Baby #5, Baby #1, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 16
| 7.72 | pg/g lipids in blood serum | 1440 |
|
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Total Brominated dioxins & furans
brominated fire retardant
1 of 1 found — see each chemical
Brominated Fire Retardant
- geometric mean: 11 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 4.1 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 3 of 10 people in the group (vs. 3 of 17 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 12
| 2780 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 3210 |
|
| ||
Total Brominated Fire Retardant
chlorinated dioxins & furans
15 of 17 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, and incineration. Cause cancer and may harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 58 pg/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 14 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 20 of 20 people in the group (vs. 2,725 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 20, Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #9, Baby #5, Cord Blood Sample 13, Baby #3, Cord Blood Sample 15, Baby #1, Cord Blood Sample 14, Baby #10, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 19, Baby #8, Baby #4, Cord Blood Sample 17, Baby #2, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 18
| 5 | pg/g lipids in blood serum | 1860 |
|
| ||
Total Chlorinated dioxins & furans
metals
3 of 3 found
Neurotoxic heavy metal linked to IQ deficits and behavioral problems. Found in dust from chipping lead paint in older homes, and in some tap water.
- geometric mean: 0.348 ug/dL in whole blood (vs. 1.33 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 7,896 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 13
| 0.222 | ug/dL in whole blood | 4.7 |
|
| ||
Mercury is used in dental fillings and to preserve vaccines; it is also a common pollutant in seafood. Mercury harms brain development and function.
- geometric mean: 0.643 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 19
| 7.0E-5 | ug/L in whole blood | 12 |
|
| ||
Forms from mercury, a pollutant from coal-fired power plants and other sources. Methylmercury accumulates in seafood and harms brain development and function.
- geometric mean: 0.605 ug/L in whole blood (vs. 0.56 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 20 of 20 people in the group (vs. 7,584 of 8,373 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #5, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Baby #4, Baby #10, Baby #3, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Baby #7, Baby #1, Baby #9, Cord Blood Sample 14, Baby #6, Baby #8, Baby #2, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 19
| 0.0735 | ug/L in whole blood | 25.9 |
|
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nitro- and polycylic- musks
2 of 10 found — see each chemical
Fragrance ingredients. Build up in human tissues. May harm hormone system.
- geometric mean: 0.405 ng/g in whole blood
- found in 7 of 10 people in the group
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 12
| 0.15 | ng/g in whole blood | 2.74 |
|
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Total Nitro- and polycylic- musks
organochlorine pesticides (ocs)
21 of 28 found — see each chemical
Includes DDT, chlordane, other pesticides. Largely banned in the U.S. Build up in the human body over time. Cause cancer and reproductive harm.
- geometric mean: 17.2 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 186 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 10 of 10 people in the group (vs. 4,276 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #3, Baby #10, Baby #5, Baby #4, Baby #2, Baby #9, Baby #1, Baby #8
| 0.615 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 2830 |
|
| ||
Total Organochlorine Pesticides (OCs)
perchlorate
1 of 1 found
Explosive component of solid rocket and missile fuel. Widespread contaminant of food, drinking water, and people. Disrupts thyroid hormones, particularly in women with lower iodide intake; may harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 0.209 ug/L in whole blood
- found in 9 of 10 people in the group
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 12
| 0.17 | ug/L in whole blood | 0.6 |
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perfluorochemicals (pfcs)
10 of 14 found — see each chemical
Includes Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster. Linked to cancer and birth defects.
- geometric mean: 3.73 ng/g in whole blood (vs. 4.46 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 20 of 20 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 12, Baby #6, Cord Blood Sample 19, Baby #9, Baby #10, Baby #4, Baby #1, Cord Blood Sample 18, Baby #2, Baby #5, Cord Blood Sample 15, Baby #7, Baby #8, Baby #3
| 0.736 | ng/g in whole blood | 27.8 |
|
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Total Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs)
9 of 18 found — see each chemical
Pollutants from burning gasoline and garbage. Linked to cancer. Accumulate in food chain.
- geometric mean: 279 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 230 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 5 of 5 people in the group (vs. 8 of 8 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Baby #8, Baby #6, Baby #2, Baby #5, Baby #1
| 130 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 384 |
|
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Total Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
30-35 of 46 found — see each chemical
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 5.74 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 20 of 20 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #8, Baby #10, Baby #2, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 15, Baby #1, Baby #7, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 19, Baby #3, Cord Blood Sample 14, Baby #9, Cord Blood Sample 11, Baby #5, Baby #6, Cord Blood Sample 17, Baby #4, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 16
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
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Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)
107-159 of 209 found — see each chemical
Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Cause cancer and nervous system problems.
- geometric mean: 11.7 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 9.81 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 20 of 20 people in the group (vs. 2,900 of 4,821 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Baby #5, Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #1, Baby #3, Baby #9, Baby #10, Baby #4, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 14, Baby #2, Baby #8, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 11
| 2.95 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 600 |
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Total Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
polychlorinated naphthalenes (pcns)
34-53 of 70 found — see each chemical
Wood preservatives, varnishes, machine lubricating oils, waste incineration. Cause liver and kidney damage.
- geometric mean: 0.605 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.693 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 20 of 20 people in the group (vs. 23 of 23 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 15, Baby #6, Baby #10, Cord Blood Sample 18, Baby #5, Baby #8, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 14, Baby #9, Baby #3, Baby #7, Baby #4, Cord Blood Sample 16, Baby #2, Baby #1, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 20
| 0.0743 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 3.43 |
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Total Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)
References/Notes
[1] CDC (2005). National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/. (Methylmercury results have been compared to total mercury in CDC biomonitoring.)
